Extra Cash

As most of you are aware (that's if anyone actually reads my blogs) my hours at work have been cut and finding a new job it becoming a tad bit tricky.  So I'm trying to start up a new business to earn a it more extra cash out of something I enjoy.  Taking 10 years away from photography though was a bad idea as I have no full portfolio to show clients.  For now I'm working for free, but I'm enjoying myself.  I have done some promotional photographs for food and have been approached by several people to take portraits of themselves and their children.  So far things are going good, Camera Club is helping to focus on going out and taking photographs, as well as helping me gain confidence to talk to people about my work (something I've been lacking for a while as I never thought my photos where worth much more than memories).  I've set up a new email account and business cards and eventually I'm going to look at setting up the business using business link website with the help of a friend.  Finally, I have always been again photo editing using software like photoshop, recently however I have seen how well it can enhance images, so I'm going to put aside some time to teach myself all the techniques I'll need, this will be thanks to youtube.
Right best get with it.
speak soon
LLAP
rob

Dedicated to Nikki

So I've been doing photography for a while now and have managed to meet like minded people.  One person comes to mind who has only just begun to take photographs, I'm happy, proud and a little jealous.  Why? I hear you ask.  Well this person is my wife, Nikki Marriott, as far as I'm aware she has hardly ever used a camera and when she has it's been to capture parties and gigs, the usual stuff people take photographs of with there mobile phones.  Nikki, however, has shown she is really good and portraits and close up of people.  Unlike me, she isn't shy to point a anyone and everyone.  She has the guts to get in close and still make the photograph look good.  Here are some of her work, what do you think about them?  Am I being biased?

Taking Steps

Sorry it's been a while for a new post, I've been busy getting married and honeymoon and what-not.  With My time away I've managed to take many photographs of Edale, Derbyshire, New York City and North Wales.  I did put them all on Facebook but have removed most of them now so I can pick out the best ones and print them off onto postcards or greeting cards to sell.  If I left them on Facebook I know some people would just copy them to their computer and print the photographs themselves.
Selling these pictures is my first step in making money out of something I love doing.  Eventually I want to be able to do portrait photo's of my friends or even just their pets, lord know I have the patients to wait for the right moment with animals to capture them in their natural habitat or to get their personality.  I have the support from so many of my friends that's it unbelievable and I feel very honored to have such good people in my life.
Today I'm doing a friend a favour and photographing one of their canvas paintings which I'm a bit nerbous about as I've never done this before so fingers crossed.
Finally I'm starting a Camera Club in Chesterfield, the  group is small at the moment and the first meeting is next week.  I'm currently look at project we can all do so in the next meeting we can compare photographs and help each other out with techniques and settings.  I'm looking forward to this and hope I can teach some of the group as much as I think I'm going to learn from them.
So all's going well in my new married life and I will keep you posted on how these projects turn out.
Peace out
LLAP
Rob

Is the summer a good time to take photographs?

Everyday I work to work by the river that runs from Purbeck Avenue to Ashgate road and everyday I wish I had taken my camera. Today, 21/04/10, I took the same route to town and grabbed my camera on the way out. I have taken some photographs, unfortunately it was a sunny day. The river was calm, relaxing in the warm rays of the day. The sky cloudless with no holiday makers flying over head. Here are the photographs for the day.

Having looked at the photo's again it made me think; is a nice sunny day a good time to take out your camera?  Granted you get some nice clear picture but I find it hard to find any character in the frame.  Much like many of you I barely ever take my camera out on a rainy, windy or foggy day.  Mainly because the environment is a safer place for my equipment, but I'm going to try and get out on days when the weather has a bit more variety to them.  Too bad it's summer in England now.